CWS situation report: Pakistan flooding
Friday, July 30, 2010

Since July 21, widespread and unusually heavy monsoon rains have hit most parts of Pakistan; further torrential rain is forecast over the coming days. Among the areas affected are Punjab province and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, formerly known as the North West Frontier Province. CWS is distributing food packages and shelter material (plastic sheets) for flood affected families of in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. CWS has also put into action a mobile health unit to provide emergency health assistance in Mansehra. More mobile health units will soon cover areas such as Kohistan, Swat and Balakot.

Many buildings have been flooded to the eaves in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.  Photo: Allan Calma, CWS-P/A

Updated July 31, 2010

Situation

Since July 21, widespread and unusually heavy monsoon rains have hit most parts of Pakistan, affecting all four provinces.  Further torrential rain is forecast over the coming days. Among the areas affected are Punjab province and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, formerly known as the North West Frontier Province.
 
More than 800 people have lost their lives; many more are stranded and exposed to disease and extreme lack of food.  Thousands have been displaced.  Other impacts include the loss of livestock and damage to agricultural crops and fields.
 
It is estimated that more than a million people have been affected thus far; the total estimated damages and affected population are yet to be determined due to inaccessibility caused by rising flood waters and disruption to communication networks.
 
Immediate needs include food, water, tents and other non-food items.

CWS response

CWS is distributing food packages and shelter material (plastic sheets) for flood affected families of in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. CWS has also put into action a mobile health unit to provide emergency health assistance in Mansehra.  More mobile health units will soon cover areas such as Kohistan, Swat and Balakot.

Church World Service and other members of the ACT Pakistan Forum are coordinating their responses and undertaking further assessments with local partners. CWS made an internal assessment of available supplies for immediate relief and its emergency response team and has begun deployment.

How to help

Contributions to support the emergency needs in Pakistan may be made online or by phone (800.297.1516), or may be sent to your denomination or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515. 

  Church World Service is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy.